Reed bed

I cant remember the last time I took the track through the reed bed between Stanpit Marsh and the River Avon. It must be over 20 years. Even though you're on the edge of a sprawling conurbation once surrounded by the reeds it feels wild and isolated.

The Marshes

Another local walk today. A local walk for local people, Christchurch can be a bit that way. I think in reality, everywhere can be a bit local, it's human nature. Today we walked over the marshes, that'll be Stanpit Marsh. Man, we used to be over the marshes all the time, there are so many memories connected to this piece of land bordering Christchurch harbour, and Hengistbury Head over the harbour. The 'Head' was the first place I wild camped when I was 14, disastrous of course. It was lovely walking here today, it's decades after I first set foot over here, and to be honest little if anything has changed, and in our current ever changing world that's a rare achievement. Strangely reassuring and comforting.

The dump

I've seen Christchurch grow and change over the years, in some respects beyond recognition as time and unrestrained urban sprawl marches on relentlessly. Often the changes feel negative, as if something is being lost, which is usually true as pockets of nature are nibbled, bitten off and consumed. This afternoon I cycled into town, along the coast, past Mudeford Quay and over Stanpit. When I was a child Stanpit was the site of the dump, an open council rubbish tip. I remember grubbing about amongst the rubbish like 'Stig of the dump', finding all manner of curiosities, well, it was the 70's. Years later the whole site was buried and landscaped, and subsequently turned into a 9 hole golf course. That golf course has now gone, and the landscape turned into a wildlife area, only in it's infancy the area has massive potential and is a fantastic addition the natural character of the harbour. From the former golf course's raised position you've got great views over the reed flanked rivers of the Stour and Avon, across the marshes, and over the tidal harbour to Hengistbury Head, and all around you nature has already begun to exert dominion, reclaiming what's rightfully hers. This is a positive change I can happily embrace.

Christchurch Priory

I was reminded today, whilst walking into Christchurch across Stanpit Marsh, how impressive and awe inspiring ecclesiastical buildings must have been to people who, say, lived in the middle ages (or even much more recent times) and only really knew modest wooden or cob thatched buildings, beyond that of their small local church. They're still very impressive buildings today, though now too often ecclesiastical buildings are surrounded by imposing modern buildings or smothered in a sea of urbanization, which detracts from them. From a mile out, approaching across the marsh, you're afforded an opportunity to glimpse what the priory might have looked like in an age before development.